New home theatre idea

[TommyC]

I'm getting frustrated listening to 2 channel movies/concerts. Stereo down mix just doesn't work (on both the OPPO BDP-95 and Marantz UD9004). Dialogue sounds faint while action and background music is too loud.

What's the most musical pre-pro / multichannel amp you have used? I'm only interested in the 3 front channels. Thinking of building a new home theatre for my newly acquired 65" plasma.

How important is room correction for multi-channel sound? I know some high end pre-pro don't have this feature (ie. Bryston).

Arcam
Burmester (doesn't decode HD audio)
Bryston
Cary Audio
Classe
Krell
Marantz
McIntosh
Primare (not sure if it has room correction)
Simaudio

[GaryProtein]

I don't think you can go wrong with something like the McIntosh MX121. It's not cheap, but not super expensive either and will do the job well especially if you aren't using a lot of features and only using the front and center channels.

[-E-]

The entry level yet real swiss army knife of that group is the marantz.

Then probably the classe ssp800 gets you a bit more upmarket. Probably in the same league as the big Anthem box. Heck even the top level denon is a solid HT performer.

TOTL you are looking at something like the Theta CBIII or meridian 861v8

[Rtan]

You can't go wrong with Krell Foundation I like it better than mx121.

[Yamaki]

You won't find just a 3-ch Audio Visual Receiver (AVR) unit (most come 5.1 or 7.1) but 3 ch is doable just by plugging in only 3 speakers to the output.

The AVR approach is sometimes misused or misunderstood as folks expect that unit to adequately power their speakers. Also, sometimes they miss making the right level adjustments based on the size of their speakers and where they are in the room, meaning distance from the listener to the speaker. It begs the question, what speakers do you have?

The Marantz unit/Oppo unit you have are not built for powering speakers so much as to process video and sound so you are on the right track in your pursuit of a pre-amp/amp separates combo or an AVR as the basis for your system.

I personally like having a pre-amp/processor and amp separates system. I can upgrade individual boxes that way and also have enough power to keep my speakers from becoming dim on me. I did make the AVR mistake and couldn't figure out why my Denon AVR-2805 was so hot all the time. I think trying to power front main speakers that like at least 175W RMS @ 4 ohms had something to do with it.

I won't suggest a brand but what I would suggest is making a decision on whether you want an AVR to provide all the source switching for video and audio + powering the speakers or if you want to go with the pre-amp/processor + amplifiers approach with one box providing the switching and the other boxes providing the power.

Good luck!

[1KW]

I am using a MX-120 with digital codecs from the Oppo95 . My amp. in my HT is the MC207 which has plenty of power for the SF GM like you have. I am using a Cremona M center channel speaker in the matching homage finish. My rear speakers are the Mcintosh HT-3 speakers

[Pider]

Originally Posted by Yamaki

You won't find just a 3-ch Audio Visual Receiver (AVR) unit (most come 5.1 or 7.1) but 3 ch is doable just by plugging in only 3 speakers to the output.

You can often find a Bryston 6B SST out there, which is a three channel amp.

[doggiehowser]

I have been watching mainly TV in the study room instead of firing up the home theatre each time and have been quite pleased with the sound I am getting.

I use a HTPC as a source - with a long/cheap NuForce USB cable feeding the Ayon CD5S CDP/DAC/Preamp. The power amp is a Plinius SA-Reference, which is used to drive a pair of Lenehan ML2 Limited stand mount speakers used in near field mode. Provides a good way to run in the speakers too



Centre dialog is clear and locked to the screen.

I use a Marantz AV8801 in the media room. The Audyssey MultiEQ XT32 does work very well and I like that the AV8801 can handle the full 11.x channels in my media room. I run a full Thiel system (CS3.7 front LR, MCS1 centre, PowerPoint 1.2 surround and surround back, Powerpoint wide and height + 2 SmartSub SS2.2 in augment for the front speakers) plus a JL f113 for dedicated LFE.

[TommyC]

I'm leaning towards high end pro-pro (ie. Bryston, Classe) w/o room correction function. This will ensure excellent 2 channel reproduction.

Does Marantz with room correction trump higher end pre-pro w/o room correction? That's my dilemma.

[-E-]

Room correction with mch is nearly a must nowadays.